I am going to be reading a test for a friend and I was just looking it over and it has “Travers” and “Renvers” in the test. I am only schooling training level, but I have of course read these words many times, I just haven’t said them out loud, or heard them said by anyone else. So I’m just wondering what the proper pronunciation is… or is it said exactly how it looks?
Thanks!
phtecally spelled, try this…
I have been told it is"Ron ver" and tra a… … ver ; I had heard Traver before but, ron… nvers was new to me; when a clinician, lockie richards, explained what it was I thought, but did not say:winkgrin: , “oh, you mean wren… vers :lol:!” hope that helps!
Yeah, this is a good question; I guess it depends on how correct you must be, and/or how the word is used commonly. I always thought it was “TRA-vers” and “REN-vers”, just like how they’re spelled, but correctly pronounced it is more like “tra-VAIR”. I’m not 100% on renvers since I don’t speak French well; it’s either “RHAN-vair” or “rhan-VAIR” 
Check that, it might also be “RHAN-vay”; I’m not sure if the last “r” is silent or not. 
I am French (which does not make me right but… :D) It is a two syllables word, you do not really need to accentuate one or the other as long as you clearly sounds both syllables. The “r” at the end is not silent, as a matter of fact the “r” sound in the middle and end need to be clearly sounded in both words. Hope I am not confusing you ! :eek:
“Tra-vair” and “rhan-vair” sound right
I was taught eons ago by German instructors that they are pronounced “trah-vair” and “ron-vair”.
“Tra-vair” and “rhan-vair” sound right
That’s how I’ve always heard it as well, usually with the accent on the second syllable in travers and with renvers more of an equal accenting of the syllables.
DownYonder has it right. Not that it much matters, as long as the rider understands what you mean. The only thing the test reader really can’t do is say anything other than exactly how it is written in the test book. Not even ‘down THE centerline’ if the test book says ‘down centerline’ or ‘AT B’, instead of ‘B - circle 20 m…etc’. Just read only what is in the test book. Finding out from the rider how to time it is also important.
It should be enough ahead that the rider can prepare for the movement. Many riders like to hear the next instruction when they have ‘established’ the current movement, or about 1/3 or 1/2 through the current movement - many test readers read too late, right when the next movement should be starting, so say, the rider has to jerk the horse arond at the last second to make the turn or whatever the next move is.
French words usually have equal or near equal stress on all syllables. They say we ‘swallow’ syllables.
Only the uninformed do the “swallowing”, or those that have been subjected to an overabundance of irrelevancy surrounded by an excess of verbalization of complete nonsense.
Freedom - what’s your beef with SLC? Invariably, no matter the topic, you take the opportunity to sucker punch?
Take it offline.
My instructor, who is originally from France but who has also studied in the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany, says Rhan-vair and trah-vair, but I can’t get the pronunciation correct. She also says eh-ti-quette in a way that I can’t pronounce, but I’ve finally begun to cope, and also to cope with the idea that etiquette is a THING rather than a vague concept.
I speak Spanish (well, Central American, which is different) but not French, and when she gets mad, she lets loose and I’m glad I CAN’T understand her!
French words usually have equal or near equal stress on all syllables. They say we ‘swallow’ syllables.
The first part is not true, the second part is mildly offensive. No one has ever told ME that I “swallow” syllables.
EAT: sorry, I meant to add, from this French-speaker rahn-vair and trah-vair are MUCH better than many readers get, so go with it! It’s as close as I could explain in print too.
My beef is this----- NOTHING was asked about how to call a test or of what words are allowed or how far ahead the test needed to be called in a test or how other test readers call tests.
It had NOTHING to do with this thread but it is in keeping with SLC’s CONSTANT blathering about irrelevant and excessive verbalization of complete nonsense. 
Thanks everyone!
And in slc2’s defense… I may not have asked about how to read the test, but I am sooo glad that she mentioned that you are only allowed to read it exactly how it’s written. Because I WAS adding words like “the” and “at”, I had NO IDEA you weren’t allowed to. You saved me from looking like a fool!
Actually, if the rules are still like when I was a sprat, I saved the rider from being disqualified.
I saved YOU from being pounded into the gravel and thrown into the lemonade stand when she gets off, LOL.
If the rider has a reader who reads what is not EXACTLY in the test book, s/he can be disqualified. If the rules are the same as they were a while ago…LOL. Any deviation from the test book is ‘outside assistance’.
We used to make up horrible alternative tests and threaten to read them this way: ‘Alright already so go down the centahline’ (NY accent).
You CAN, however, SCREAM certain things without violating the rule -
‘BEEEEEEEEE!!! TURN LLLLLLEEEEEFFTTTTT!’
lol.
I also think there is still a specific place where you HAVE to stand to read. E or B, I can’t recall. But one of those. You have to stand at that spot and nowhere else.
I used to run away when anyone asked me to read a test, LOL.
It doesn’t matter how YOU are pronouncing them as long as your rider pronounces them the same way too 
I can only imagine that…
OP: “RHAN-vair at B!!!” (i do not know dressage letters)
Rider: mumbles to self, looks confused
OP: “rhan-VAIR at B!!!”
Rider: begins to serpentine while looking at OP with THAT FACE
OP: “RENVERS AT BEEEEEEEE”
Rider: exits dressage arena at C, attempts to mow down OP whilst screaming “WHY DIDN’T YOU JUST SAY THAT?!?!?”
I’d be asking your rider how SHE pronounces it Especially with show nerves, any attempt on your part to correct her pronunciation may result in mutiny. Of course, you may never be asked to read another dressage test either. This may or may not be a good thing 
[QUOTE=DownYonder;3562461]
I was taught eons ago by German instructors that they are pronounced “trah-vair” and “ron-vair”.[/QUOTE]
That’s what I’m used to hearing and saying.
I don’t doubt that. Horses will spook at many strange things.:yes:
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